Chapter 5: Teahouse Upheaval

The court session ended, but the adverse political fallout had only just begun.

Outside the grand hall, Emperor Tianyuan’s body trembled.

A sudden and catastrophic defeat declared his military reforms a failure.

No one cared about the process; everyone only saw the emperor’s newly trained army routed, all prior glorious victories rendered void.

No one challenged him in court because the ministers had just received the news and had not yet had time to react.

Once they coordinated, the groups harmed by the reforms would inevitably act.

Not only would the military reforms be attacked, but all previous reform measures would come under scrutiny.

“Your Majesty, please preserve your imperial health!”

The eunuch beside him, Zuo Guang’en, spoke up to urge caution.

“Don’t worry—I can draw a two-shi bow. A little setback won’t touch me.”

Issue an edict summoning the Grand Secretaries and the noble lords to discuss this.”

Guang’en, you don’t need to stay with me. With this happening, the court will erupt—go handle it first!”

Remember, send the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate how the defeat occurred. This affair is too unusual.”

I don’t believe Duan Wenhong would lead troops into battle without first consulting someone about the weather.”

Even if he didn’t understand celestial signs, surely his army had veteran generals who should have reminded him that firearms need waterproofing!”

Emperor Tianyuan forced down his rage.

“Your Majesty, rest assured.”

“This matter, this old servant will investigate thoroughly—no suspicious person will escape!”

Zuo Guang’en immediately pledged.

This crushing defeat would severely damage Emperor Tianyuan’s imperial authority.

Eunuchs exist only by clinging to imperial power; if the emperor’s authority crumbles, they will be the first to suffer.

The civil officials outside who long to devour them alive would pounce at once and tear them to pieces.

If the frontline defeat was an act of heaven, it might be bearable—but if it involved human malfeasance, the most violent political struggle in the Tianyuan court would erupt immediately.

…

In the teahouse, Li Mu, who had come to gather intelligence, was deeply disappointed.

The teahouse teemed with gossip from all walks of life, but the information was far too trivial.

Who’s quarreling with whom, who’s cheating on whom.

Someone lost their money here, someone’s widow took a lover there.

Fine for entertainment, but useful intelligence amounted to zero.

Even the eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch had become a myth in their mouths.

“Evil dragon turning,” “Yellow River breached,” “Fanzhen rebellion”—they spun tales with vivid detail, all pure fantasy.

It was understandable; those discussing it were commoners with inherently limited information.

Anyone with even a hint of status would meet in private upstairs rooms, not in the chaotic main hall.

The Da Yu Dynasty didn’t punish speech—but that applied only to commoners; it didn’t mean court officials could speak recklessly.

“Fighting’s broken out outside!”

Someone shouted, instantly activating the nation’s innate love of spectacle; everyone stretched their necks toward the door.

“Embroidered Uniform Guard arresting foreign spies! Bystanders, clear the way!”

Hearing the Embroidered Uniform Guard were arresting spies, the crowd scattered instantly; chaos intensified.

“Young Master Li, we should leave!”

“If the Embroidered Uniform Guard are involved, it’s bound to be trouble.”

Fu Bao spoke awkwardly.

He’d suggested coming to the teahouse, and now, barely seated, they’d stumbled into this.

The imperial-authorized law enforcement agency in the capital could make children cry.

“Why rush?

They’re arresting spies—it has nothing to do with us. Leaving now would look like guilt.”

Haven’t you seen those running ahead? They’ve already been blocked.”

Li Mu spoke calmly.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard’s fearsome reputation stemmed not just from their own brutality, but mostly from smear campaigns by civil officials.

Arbitrary cruelty and persecution of loyal ministers did occur, but most actions followed imperial orders.

Without higher direction, even the Embroidered Uniform Guard had to follow the rules.

Those who ignored court protocols and acted recklessly rarely lived long.

The noble youths upstairs remained calm; he could too.

In an instant, the fleeing patrons were forced back, along with the “foreign spies” being hunted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The teahouse’s closed front door, battered by their frantic collisions, groaned as if about to collapse.

“Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh”—arrows rained down, killing the spies but inevitably wounding bystanders.

Seeing this, Li Mu silently cursed the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s entire family.

To enforce like this beneath the imperial palace—unafraid of injuring imperial relatives? Pure reckless fools.

Without hesitation, Li Mu ordered his retainers to retreat upstairs, but halfway up the stairs, they were blocked.

“Gentlemen, we are from the Zhenyuan Marquis’s household—this is my lord’s nephew.”

As he named his household, Fu Bao also produced the Marquis’s official calling card.

The truth proved: in this world, background still mattered.

Upon hearing “Zhenyuan Marquis,” the blocker immediately sent one man upstairs to report.

…

“If he’s the Zhenyuan Marquis’s nephew, let him come up.”

“But his retainers must stay and help defend.”

The youth spoke indifferently.

Clearly, he didn’t care about the Zhenyuan Marquis—he merely didn’t want to create unnecessary enemies.

“Your Highness, your safety is paramount…”

Before the middle-aged eunuch finished, the youth waved him off: “The situation outside is too chaotic. We lack manpower—we can’t guarantee we won’t be dragged in.”

“Besides, the Zhenyuan Marquis is a special case. If his nephew is trapped outside and something happens, it’ll be a major problem.”

“Your Highness is right—this old servant’s vision is too narrow.”

The eunuch’s flattery pleased the youth greatly.

…

At the stairwell, learning only he himself was allowed upstairs, Li Mu frowned.

“Use tables as barriers, benches as weapons—hold the southwest corner. Keep outsiders away!”

Li Mu gave the order immediately.

A gentleman doesn’t stand beneath a crumbling wall; the upstairs situation was unknown. Going up alone wasn’t necessarily safer than staying below.

Better to control one’s fate than surrender it to others.

The retainers who followed him to the capital were elite soldiers, carefully selected from the army—each had seen blood.

If only they had armor and weapons, this small scene wouldn’t even be worth mentioning.

As soon as the defensive position was formed, the chaotic crowd surged in, all racing for the third floor.

A flash of cold steel—a head rolled down the stairs; the foremost teahouse patron paid for his recklessness with his life.

Immediately followed by more screams; those scrambling up the stairs turned and fled, terrified of becoming the next victims.

Seeing someone approach, the retainers raised their benches to strike.

Perhaps the lesson of blood had sunk in—they now moved with extreme caution, dodging at the first sign of danger.

In an instant, the foreign spies, hot on their heels, entered the teahouse; a terrifying atmosphere engulfed the entire room.

(End of Chapter)